BDO Unibank and Mastercard are marking two decades of collaboration that has helped shape how overseas Filipinos send and receive money, and stay financially connected to their families back home Over the years, the collaboration has reached more than 4 million Filipinos abroad, supporting remittance and payment services designed to be faster, more secure, and accessible. Combining BDO’s remittance network with Mastercard’s global payments infrastructure, the two organizations have played a role in expanding access to financial services for Filipinos across different markets. “For the last 20 years, the collaboration between BDO and Mastercard has helped serve overseas Filipinos—over 4 million of them—and we look forward to the next 20 years of working with BDO,” said Jason Crasto, Country Manager, Philippines, Mastercard. The collaboration is also reflected in everyday financial use. Millions of BDO ATM cards carrying the Mastercard logo are used locally and overseas, supporting transactions that range from remittances to daily purchases. “We’re proud to stand alongside BDO in this collaboration that has reached millions of Filipinos here and abroad. Its use across markets reflects the role we’ve built together over the years in supporting how they stay connected financially,” Crasto added. For BDO, the collaboration is closely tied to its focus on serving overseas Filipinos and their families. “At the heart of our 20-year collaboration with Mastercard is a shared commitment to serve our kabayans,” said Genie Gloria, senior vice president and head of Remittance at BDO. She noted that beyond facilitating transactions, the aim has been to make it easier for Filipinos abroad to support their families. “As we look ahead, our focus remains clear—to continuously innovate and uplift the remittance experience, ensuring that every remittance is not just a transaction, but a connection delivered with care and trust,” Gloria said. As digital adoption continues to shape financial behavior, both organizations said they are working on new solutions aimed at improving security, convenience, and accessibility, particularly for Filipinos navigating cross-border transactions. “There’s a lot of innovation you’ll be hearing more about in 2026,” Crasto said, noting that upcoming initiatives will focus on making transactions simpler and more secure for users. As the collaboration moves forward, BDO and Mastercard said they remain focused on expanding financial access and supporting Filipinos wherever they may be.  

Globe delivered strong year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2026, demonstrating business resilience and strong execution amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. Consolidated gross service revenues reached Php42 billion, up 5% year-on-year, supported by sustained demand for connectivity and digital services. Data continued to anchor performance, contributing 91% of total consolidated service revenues, underscoring the strength and scale of Globe’s core connectivity platforms. Mobile data remained a key growth driver, with revenues rising 11% year-on-year to Php26.8 billion, while traffic expanded 18% to 1,810 petabytes, reflecting sustained usage across video, social media, gaming, and digital payments. The 1Q2026 performance marks Globe’s second-highest quarterly revenue level on record, reflecting sustained business momentum following its peak in the fourth quarter of 2025. It also represents one of its strongest start to a year in recent periods, with all core segments, including mobile, broadband, and enterprise, contributing to growth. Essential Nature of Connectivity The continued expansion of data usage highlights the essential nature of connectivity, even as consumers navigate tighter spending conditions. Growth was driven by structural digital adoption rather than short-term consumption patterns, reinforcing the durability of Globe’s revenue base. Mobile revenues reached Php30 billion, up 6% year-on-year, supported by strong data monetization and a growing subscriber base. Home broadband revenues rose 6% to Php6.2 billion, driven by deeper fiber adoption, while corporate data revenues increased 6% to Php5.1 billion, led by demand for ICT and cloud-enabled solutions. Profitability remained stable, with EBITDA growing 7% year-on-year to Php22.2 billion and margins expanding to 52.8%, reflecting disciplined cost management alongside sustained topline growth. Core net income rose 9% year-on-year to Php4.9 billion, indicating underlying earnings strength despite external pressures. “We are pleased to have sustained our momentum into the first quarter of 2026, delivering resilient topline growth of 5% year-on-year. This was driven by disciplined execution and prudent cost management, alongside sustained demand for data and connectivity,” said Carl Cruz, Globe President and CEO. High-impact network, capacity upgrades Against the backdrop of ongoing global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions affecting energy costs and consumer behavior, Globe has adopted a focused and disciplined operating approach to protect margins and sustain overall service quality. The company continues to prioritize efficient capital allocation, directing investments toward high-impact network and capacity upgrades while maintaining positive free cash flow and minimizing foreign exchange exposure. Capital expenditures for the quarter reached Php12.7 billion, with 91% allocated to data-related initiatives, reinforcing Globe’s commitment to delivering a reliable and high-quality network experience nationwide. “We are operating with discipline with a war-like stance, focusing on protecting margins, optimizing our capital spend, and ensuring that our customers continue to receive a reliable, high-quality network experience. This approach allows us to remain resilient while positioning the business for long-term growth,” Cruz added. Looking ahead, Globe expects full-year performance to reflect evolving market conditions, including potential impacts on consumer spending and rising operating costs such as power rates. The company is guiding for low to mid single-digit revenue growth for the year, aligned with its focus on sustainable, quality growth. Globe’s first-quarter results underscore the strength of its data-driven strategy, demonstrating that connectivity-led growth remains resilient across economic cycles while continuing to support the country’s accelerating digital transformation.                  

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading airline, ranked as the top Philippine carrier for on-time performance (OTP) and fifth overall among Asia Pacific carriers in April 2026, achieving an 84.98% on-time arrival rate across over 12,000 systemwide flights based on data from London-based aviation analytics firm Cirium. Cirium’s OTP review, considered the longest standing in the industry, measures punctuality based on aircraft arrival times. Flights are considered on time when they arrive at the gate within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival. “This recognition reflects the discipline and teamwork of our people across the network, who work tirelessly every day to keep our operations running efficiently. At Cebu Pacific, we remain focused on delivering operational excellence so our passengers can enjoy a smooth and reliable travel experience every time they fly with us,” said Javier Massot, CEB Chief Operations Officer. To reaffirm its commitment to operational excellence, the airline recently inaugurated the Cebu Pacific Training Academy, a purpose-built, state-of-the-art training facility aimed at providing high-quality, hands-on, and experience-based training for prospective aviation professionals. The facility was also designed to support service consistency and operational readiness as the airline continues to expand. CEB has also upgraded its Network Control Center into the Cebu Pacific Operations Control Center, enhancing crisis and disruption preparedness while reinforcing the airline’s shift to a more integrated, digital-first, and proactive approach to operational management. CEB currently operates in 35 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading airline, reported a 10% year-on-year increase in total revenue for the first quarter, driven by an increase in seat capacity and sustained passenger demand. Total revenue for the quarter rose to ₱33.3 billion, supported by a 10% increase in seat capacity and sustained passenger demand across both domestic and international markets. CEB carried 7.5 million passengers, up 8% year-on-year, while maintaining a healthy seat load factor of 83.7%, reflecting effective capacity deployment and stable travel demand. Passenger revenue increased 6% to ₱22.5 billion, while ancillary revenue rose 19% to ₱9 billion, driven by continued improvements in ancillary yields. The airline’s cargo business also expanded, with cargo revenue growing 8% year-on-year to ₱1.8 billion, supported by higher widebody capacity. EBITDA rose 26% year-on-year to ₱8.4 billion, while operating income increased 54% to ₱3 billion. Cost discipline and improved operating efficiencies partially offset higher operating costs associated with fleet and capacity expansion. Core profitability improved, with core income before tax increasing to ₱1.3 billion from ₱325 million last year. Quarter-end peso depreciation resulted in non-core foreign exchange losses of ₱1.8 billion, resulting in a net loss of ₱400 million versus net income of ₱466 million in the prior year. Cebu Pacific ended the quarter with 101 aircraft in its fleet and a strong liquidity position, closing March 2026 with over ₱23 billion in cash, providing ample flexibility to manage near-term volatility while supporting strategic initiatives. “Our first‑quarter performance reflects the strength of our network and disciplined capacity deployment,” said Mike Szucs, Chief Executive Officer of Cebu Pacific. “As we navigate a more volatile operating environment amid higher fuel prices, we are taking a more cautious and measured approach focused on margin protection, prudent capacity deployment, and liquidity preservation. Our scale, fleet efficiency, and strong domestic network position us well to navigate near-term uncertainty while continuing to build long‑term value.”    

Taguig City, Philippines — Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (PSE: CNVRG) is ramping up its support for the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, citing world-class digital infrastructure as the primary catalyst for the industry’s continued global leadership. Converge Global Business, the company’s corporate and large enterprise unit, recently hosted the Elevating Connections forum at its BGC headquarters. The event convened top industry leaders to address the escalating technological demands of the IT-BPM sector, with discussions focused on how strategic partnerships and robust connectivity are essential to sustaining the Philippines’ economic momentum. Jack Madrid, President and CEO of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), underscored the sector’s role as a fundamental pillar of the national economy. “As we shift to higher-value services and embrace a more digitally-driven global landscape, our continued growth depends on world-class digital infrastructure,” Madrid said. “Strategic partnerships with leading technology providers ensure we maintain global competitiveness and continue to elevate Filipino talent on the world stage.” The forum highlighted the shift in operational requirements for modern BPOs, which now face increased demands for secure data management, AI integration, and the support of permanent hybrid workforces. Industry leaders noted that any interruption in connectivity directly impacts revenue and international client trust, making network redundancy a top priority for telecom procurement. In response to these needs, Converge reaffirmed its commitment to a robust infrastructure expansion initiative. Grace Jarin-Castillo, Senior Vice President for Sales & Marketing at Converge Global Business, stated that the company is continuously investing in both local and international assets to ensure scalability and redundancy for its stakeholders. “We recognize that seamless connectivity is the lifeblood of global operations,” Jarin-Castillo noted. “We are committed to delivering the robust, diverse, and scalable solutions necessary for this dynamic sector to support its customers, both locally and abroad.” Central to this commitment is Converge’s investment in massive subsea cable systems. As a consortium owner of the 5,000-kilometer SEA-H2X Cable System, Converge provide direct links to major Asian markets. Furthermore, its partnership in the 20,000-kilometer Bifrost Cable System will enable secure, high-capacity connectivity from Southeast Asia to North America. With a fiber network now spanning over 896,000 kilometers, Converge Global Business remains positioned to support the large-scale requirements of the country’s leading BPOs, ensuring the Philippines remains the destination of choice for global outsourcing. Ready to future-proof your BPO operations? Contact Converge Global Business for tailored, enterprise-grade connectivity solutions or visit www.convergeict.com/enterprise      

Gen Zs are taking a fresh approach to securing their future. While many prioritize side hustles and personal goals, they also value authenticity and see the importance of financial protection early on. Recognizing this shift, BDO Life has emerged as Gen Z’s top choice for their next purchase, earning the No. 1 spot in Consideration in the insurance sector at the 2026 Synergy-YouGov Awards. This citation comes from YouGov BrandIndex’s 2025 nationwide consumer tracking results, based on daily brand health tracking among more than 3,000 Gen Z respondents. “BDO Life is expanding its reach to support a broader range of breadwinners, including Gen Z. We appreciate how they value life insurance as a meaningful way to plan ahead and secure their future. This milestone inspires us to keep growing alongside the evolving needs of future generations,” shares Shirlyn T. Book, BDO Life VP and Marketing Head during the awards ceremony. The award underscores BDO Life’s deepening relevance among younger generations who consider insurance not just a safety net, but as their Plan B in building a secure future.  

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on April 28, 2026, Tuesday formally turned over  Php5.7 billion to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), marking its latest contribution to funding infrastructure, social services, and military modernization. This brings BCDA’s total remittances for 2026 to 5 percent higher than the Php5.45 billion recorded in 2025, driven by solid performance across its economic zones and strategic partnerships. “BCDA is the GOCC (government-owned and -controlled corporation) that goes beyond generating dividends. It is a true developer of progress, creating the platforms and jobs that uplift millions of Filipinos across the country…The entire DOF family stands ready to support you. We will match your momentum. We will back your strategy. We will help you unlock even more value from your assets,” said Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go. The amount is equivalent to around 330 kilometers of roads, 2,300 classrooms, or 1,700 hospital beds nationwide. It can also support about 3,800 housing units under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program. Once channeled, a portion will be allocated to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program. “Every peso we remit translates to real improvements in people’s daily lives. This is how we make sure our work creates an impact that people can see and feel,” said BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Engr. Joshua M. Bingcang. Of the total, Php2.6 billion came from dividends, the highest in BCDA’s history and 18.18 percent higher than the Php2.2 billion recorded in 2025. This represents 61 percent of BCDA’s net earnings, exceeding the 50 percent minimum required under Republic Act No. 7656 or the Dividend Law. Of the total dividends, Php300 million has been allocated to help the national government cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on vulnerable sectors. This ensures that part of BCDA’s earnings directly supports Filipinos facing immediate economic pressure. The remaining Php3.09 billion came from asset disposition proceeds, which will be distributed to beneficiary agencies, including a significant share for the AFP modernization program. BCDA also remitted Php25 million in guarantee fees to the BTr, linked to the government’s loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). “We ensure that every peso due to the government is remitted accurately and on time. Accountability is how we make sure public resources are protected and used for the benefit of every Filipino,” Engr. Bingcang added.            

Before the break of dawn, Jose Cabanza Jr. of Barangay La Huerta in Parañaque wakes up to prepare his fishing equipment before heading to Manila Bay by sunrise to haul in his catch for the day. But for fishers like Jose, not every day is a good day. “Pabago-bago po [ang kita] katulad ngayon, medyo may sama ng tubig, namamatay ang ibang tahong (My earnings fluctuate. Recently, some mussels are dying due to poor water conditions),” he said. Jose is just one of the target beneficiaries of a financial education program of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the City Government of Parañaque, and BDO Foundation. Advocated by the City Agricultural, Fisheries, and Aquatic Services Office of Parañaque, the initiative aims to equip fisherfolk with the knowledge and tools to better manage their finances amid the challenges faced by the sector. “They need technical knowledge to improve their lives,” said Amie Hernandez, OIC of the Parañaque City Agri Office. “This partnership actually seals that intention. And someday, our people will be more than capable of managing their financial capacity or their resources.” The financial education program was launched recently in a ceremonial event held at the Parañaque city hall. Present were leaders of fishing cooperatives in the city, key stakeholders from other sectors, and representatives from the BSP and BDO Foundation. Also in attendance were Parañaque City mayor Edwin Olivarez and District 1 representative Eric Olivarez. In his message of support, BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito shared “3 Ps” that illustrate what the financial education program is all about—partnership, practical knowledge, and preparedness. “Kung marunong po ang mga tao na mamahala sa kanilang kinikita, nagiging matatag po sila (If people know how to manage their finances, they become resilient),” Deriquito said. The BSP also lauded the partnership as it supports its whole-of-society approach to financial education. “This collaboration shows what is possible when the public and private sectors, such as BDO Foundation, work hand-in-hand for the good of our communities,” said BSP Economic and Financial Learning Office director Marianne Santos. Other beneficiaries are also looking forward to the financial education program. “Nag-iipon po kasi talaga kami mag-asawa pero sabi ko parang mas maganda may matututunan pa. Gusto ko po matutunan yung proper na pag-iipon sa bangko (My husband and I are already saving, but we want to learn more. I want to understand the proper way of saving in a bank),” said Mary Jane Gutierrez, a vendor at Parañaque’s Bulungan Seafood Market.   Representatives from Parañaque’s fisheries sector, BSP, BDO Foundation, and other stakeholders gather at the Parañaque city hall to witness the launch of the partners’ financial education program.

Highlights: *Resilient results on sustained growth in core businesses *Gross loans grew by 16%, driven by broad‑based growth across all market segments *Asset quality continued to improve, with NPL ratio lower at 1.68% and NPL cover among the highest in the industry *Capital position remained strong, with a CET1 ratio of 13.3% and Book Value Per Share up 8% to ₱119.36   BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) reported a net income of ₱20.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, 2% higher than ₱19.7 billion in the same period last year, supported by the sustained performance of its core businesses. Return on Average Common Equity (ROCE) stood at 12.8% for the period. The Bank delivered strong operational results, achieving mid-teens growth in loans and pre-provision operating profit, with asset quality continuing to improve. Net income was tempered by higher provisions, as the Bank is building strong reserves, primarily a pre‑emptive measure undertaken in response to evolving geo-political risk conditions. Net Interest Income grew by 11% as Gross Customer Loans increased by 16% to ₱3.8 trillion, boosted by the double-digit growth across all market segments. Total deposits expanded by 15%, with Current Account/Savings Account (CASA) growth accelerating to 7%. Non-interest income went up by 6%, while income from insurance operations rose by 27%. Asset quality improved, with the Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio declining to 1.68% from 1.77% in the same period last year. NPL coverage was at 132%. Shareholders’ equity increased by 9%, on the back of sustained earnings, with Book Value Per Share rising by 8% to ₱119.36. The Bank’s CET1 ratio was at 13.3%. BDO’s leading market position, diversified business franchise, and strong financial position underpin its ability to pursue sustainable long term growth and profitability while capturing emerging opportunities in a dynamic operating environment.